Review: ‘French Dressing’

It's a pity to see a promising comedy idea go busted through sheer lack of bright wit and irony. French Dressing is a light comedy which needed the satirical touch, but instead suffers from a flat, heavy treatment. This squelches many of the lighter, more promising moments.

It’s a pity to see a promising comedy idea go busted through sheer lack of bright wit and irony. French Dressing is a light comedy which needed the satirical touch, but instead suffers from a flat, heavy treatment. This squelches many of the lighter, more promising moments.

Gormleigh-on-Sea is one of those British holiday resorts that suffer from acute dull-itis. A bright young deckchair attendant (James Booth) cons the local entertainments manager and the mayor into running a film festival. They persuade an ambitious young French actress to be the star of the proceedings which lead to some inevitable disasters and coy jokes such as a total washout at the opening of a new Nudist Beach and a riot at a premiere. Only quick thinking by the young American journalist girl friend of James Booth saves the situation.

Too much stodgy joking does not aid predictable slapstick situations. Quick cutting and speeding up of camerawork are not enough to disguise the fact that this is not a souffle but mainly an indigestible pancake.